Rush against rot for growers

Unseasonably early rains have drenched the North Coast’s grape crop for the second time this week, increasing the pressure on grape growers already scrambling to get red grapes harvested before they begin rotting on the vine.

An estimated 15 to 35 percent of the grape crop is still hanging in the vineyards. Most are the thicker-skinned cabernet sauvignon and merlot varietals, which are more resistant to “bunch rot” than their white cousins.

“The reds can tolerate some rain and the clusters are loose, so that’s good,” said Nick Frey, president of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.

Mold and rot cause the most damage when rain penetrates tightly formed grape clusters. The loose clusters that are the result of poor fruit set early in the season could actually end up being a blessing because the clusters will dry out faster.

Growers could face losses if cloudy, rainy weather persists, however.

“It could get kind of bad next week if it continues to be wet,” said UC Extension advisor Glenn McGourty in Ukiah.

Sunshine is expecged Saturday and Sunday and that will help dry out the vines.

An estimated 20 to 35 percent of Mendocino County’s winegrapes remain on the vine and about 20 percent of Lake County's are unpicked, McGourty said.

The wineries are trying to accommodate the growers by allowing them to pick earlier than the winemakers would otherwise want, but their tanks are filling up, McGourty said.

Sonoma County is a little further along, with an estimated 15 to 20 percent remaining to be picked, Frey said.

With additional rain predicted for Monday, this will be a busy weekend for grower and wineries alike.

“We need to get it out of the fields as soon as possible,” Frey said.

— Press Democrat Staff